Louisiana will remain in Phase 2 of reopening from COVID-19 for an additional 21 days, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday.
“We may be seeing fewer new cases but there still is a lot of COVID statewide. We now have ticked above 50,000 active confirmed cases, which means there is more COVID in our state than ever before. We need deeper, sustained gains," Edwards said.
A mandate on face coverings, bar closures and a limit on gatherings to 50 people will continue as part of the extension.
“Louisiana is beginning to see the positive impact of the mask mandate in its COVID-19 data, including a decline in the number of people who are reporting to emergency rooms with COVID-like symptoms, decreasing new cases across the state and declining or plateauing hospitalizations in many regions of our state," said the Governor.
"Still, every single one of our 64 parishes has high COVID incidence. According to the White House report yesterday, Louisiana is in the red zone for cases, indicating more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the last week, and also for COVID-19 test positivity, indicating a rate above 10 percent. In its weekly recommendations to the state, the White House Coronavirus Task Force specifically recommends continuing both the statewide mask mandate and the closure of bars to on-premises consumption," Edwards added.
The current Phase 2 order will expire on Friday. The extended order keeps Phase 2 conditions in place through August 28.
“We are in this together for the long haul, and I am confident that we can continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our state, if each and every Louisianan will recommit to these necessary mitigation measures. We are at a critical point in our battle against COVID-19, and we need every person in our state to play their part," the Governor concluded.
Watch the Governor's Tuesday press conference here: